I get asked these questions many times. "Is this the right thing to do?" Or "is it okay for me to ...?" Or "should I try this?"
Much more often than not, the question is being asked because the people asking do not want to take certain steps. They are afraid they will get into trouble, be seen as pestering, inappropriate, or that they will fail. Maybe they fear that they will appear foolish.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." Alexander Pope
But history has shown us time and time again that many who have rushed in have achieved success. Success was theirs only because they had the courage to try some things even if those attempts were foolish. Even when those attempts failed. And many of these attempts were at the risk of putting everything, everything they had, everything they treasured, on the line.
"Fortune favors the bold." Virgil
Famous Failures Video
A good example of a successful person who first was thought of as a "fool" is Robert Goddard who today is hailed for his research and experimentation with liquid-fueled rockets, but during his lifetime his ideas were often rejected and mocked by his scientific peers who thought they were outrageous and impossible. Today rockets and space travel don't seem far-fetched at all, due largely in part to the work of this scientist who worked against the feelings of the time.
Click on this link for an article on 50 Famously Successful People Who Failed At First which includes Goddard.
So, why not be foolish, why not try something different, why not go out on a limb?
What have you got to lose?
Maybe you even will have to face your greatest fear...success!
If you are still afraid to take the next step, I am here to help.
Contact me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org, or on LinkedIn, and be sure to visit JVS at www.jvsdet.org.
Happy April Fools Day!!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wishing You Good Will
"May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and the road downhill all the way to your door." Irish saying
Are you making the first steps in your job search about how you can be of help to others?
What skills, experience, education and knowledge, successes can you use to help your next boss, your next co-workers, your next company?
Have you identified what you have of value and appeal to your employer market?
Make that your first step.
Identify how you can help potential employers be successful.
How can you put a smile on their faces, joy in their hearts and money in their pockets?
And how can you do the same for your fellow job seekers?
How can you be of help to those who are ready, willing and able to help you?
Do you have "warm words" for them on those "cold evenings" during this tough economy?
Do you bring the light of hope, the "full moon," when it is hard for all to see that during "dark nights?"
Do you help make the road easier, "downhill all the way to their door?"
Start by thinking first and always foremost about how you can spread good will and be of help to your next employer and to those who already care about you.
We at JVS want to help.
Visit us at www.jvsdet.org.
Attend any or all of our events, meetings, and seminars as shown on our calendars at www.ParnossahWorksDetroit.org and our main website.
Join me and my groups on LinkedIn.
"May good fortune be yours. May your joys never end."
Are you making the first steps in your job search about how you can be of help to others?
What skills, experience, education and knowledge, successes can you use to help your next boss, your next co-workers, your next company?
Have you identified what you have of value and appeal to your employer market?
Make that your first step.
Identify how you can help potential employers be successful.
How can you put a smile on their faces, joy in their hearts and money in their pockets?
And how can you do the same for your fellow job seekers?
How can you be of help to those who are ready, willing and able to help you?
Do you have "warm words" for them on those "cold evenings" during this tough economy?
Do you bring the light of hope, the "full moon," when it is hard for all to see that during "dark nights?"
Do you help make the road easier, "downhill all the way to their door?"
Start by thinking first and always foremost about how you can spread good will and be of help to your next employer and to those who already care about you.
We at JVS want to help.
Visit us at www.jvsdet.org.
Attend any or all of our events, meetings, and seminars as shown on our calendars at www.ParnossahWorksDetroit.org and our main website.
Join me and my groups on LinkedIn.
"May good fortune be yours. May your joys never end."
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Take Action
"Be bold. If you're going to make an error, make a doozy, and don't be afraid to hit the ball." Billie Jean King
One sure way to achieve your goals, to realize your dreams, is to get started!
Get your job search house in order.
Visualize your desired, your ideal, job and worklife. Identify what aspects of that job are important to you and picture the actual work place. If you have a difficult time imagining any of this, consider working with a career counselor. JVS offers career counseling services. To learn more, go to www.jvsdet.org or contact me directly at wtarrow@jvsdet.org.
Learn how to ride your job search emotional roller coaster. The ups and downs are, and will, certainly be there. So find ways to survive, maybe even enjoy (and even get a picture afterward...:-)), the ride. Seek out support and use your personal network. If you are having a hard time and need help in finding support, please contact me by email or call me at 248.233.4231. I can also provide you with a list of area job seeker support and networking groups.
Prepare your marketing materials. Again, if you need help with your resume, your cover letters, your personal card, portfolio and the like, get in touch with me.
Have a plan and put it into motion. Assemble your job search team, use any and all resources at your disposal. And, regardless of how and where you are stuck, contact me to help get you unstuck.
"Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action." Benjamin Disraeli
One sure way to achieve your goals, to realize your dreams, is to get started!
Get your job search house in order.
Visualize your desired, your ideal, job and worklife. Identify what aspects of that job are important to you and picture the actual work place. If you have a difficult time imagining any of this, consider working with a career counselor. JVS offers career counseling services. To learn more, go to www.jvsdet.org or contact me directly at wtarrow@jvsdet.org.
Learn how to ride your job search emotional roller coaster. The ups and downs are, and will, certainly be there. So find ways to survive, maybe even enjoy (and even get a picture afterward...:-)), the ride. Seek out support and use your personal network. If you are having a hard time and need help in finding support, please contact me by email or call me at 248.233.4231. I can also provide you with a list of area job seeker support and networking groups.
Prepare your marketing materials. Again, if you need help with your resume, your cover letters, your personal card, portfolio and the like, get in touch with me.
Have a plan and put it into motion. Assemble your job search team, use any and all resources at your disposal. And, regardless of how and where you are stuck, contact me to help get you unstuck.
"Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action." Benjamin Disraeli
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Beware the Ides of March
What is holding you back from your job search?
Are you afraid, anxious or worried about what may happen if you take action?
Is it difficult for you to take steps because you are not certain of the outcome?
"Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make you a far happier and more productive person." Dr. David M. Burns
Do your steps have to be perfect before you make a move?
"If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin." Ivan Turgenev
What is it that is blocking you from taking steps in your job search?
If you are unsure, confused, not certain of what to do, where to start or how to keeping going, help is out there.
You can start with us at JVS and go from there. Visit our website at www.jvsdet.org and take advantage of our Online Job Search link and plan on attending a weekly job seeker support group meeting or job search seminars listed on our monthly calendar.
Contact me by email at wtarrow@jvsdet.org or call me at 248.233.4231
Don't let this quote be where you are and where you are stuck.
"Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed." Michael Pritchard
Are you afraid, anxious or worried about what may happen if you take action?
Is it difficult for you to take steps because you are not certain of the outcome?
"Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make you a far happier and more productive person." Dr. David M. Burns
Do your steps have to be perfect before you make a move?
"If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin." Ivan Turgenev
What is it that is blocking you from taking steps in your job search?
If you are unsure, confused, not certain of what to do, where to start or how to keeping going, help is out there.
You can start with us at JVS and go from there. Visit our website at www.jvsdet.org and take advantage of our Online Job Search link and plan on attending a weekly job seeker support group meeting or job search seminars listed on our monthly calendar.
Contact me by email at wtarrow@jvsdet.org or call me at 248.233.4231
Don't let this quote be where you are and where you are stuck.
"Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed." Michael Pritchard
Monday, February 21, 2011
Flattery will get you everywhere...
A thank you goes out to Claudia Mills, claudia.mills@homeinstead.com, of Home Instead Senior Care, www.homeinstead.com/283, for her invaluable advice about recommendations on LinkedIn, www.linkedin.com.
At our JVS Employer Forum event last Tuesday, February 15, Claudia suggested to get recommendations on LinkedIn, first you should give recommendations.
What a wonderfully wise idea!
First seek out others who have qualities, or experience, or situations you admire. People who are working, or have worked, where you would like to work. Others who have the background, the education or training, or skill sets you find of interest. Fellow professionals or workers who are where you want to be; who have taken the journey you may need to take to get where you want to be.
Include those who have connections to those people with whom you most closely want to identify.
Then read their profiles and invite them to join your network if you already know them or have a connection in common.
Get to know them to learn what you admire, appreciate, the most about them.
And, most importantly, compose a recommendation and send it to them.
By taking these steps, you also learn about yourself.
You learn about what is important to you, what interests you and what you admire.
By finding it in others, you gain a better understanding of what strengths you have already and what strengths you need to develop.
And you take action to enlist the aid of others who have developed those strengths to show you the way.
If you need help with your recommendations or in learning about and navigating LinkedIn, attend my LinkedIn series the first week in March. Go to www.parnossahworksdetroit.org and click on the Seminars/Events tab for more information and to register.
You can also follow me and JVS on LinkedIn, the JVS website at www.jvsdet.org, and JVS Detroit on Facebook.
Or email me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org.
Recommend us to your friends and connections, especially anyone who is looking for help in finding employment or changing careers.
At our JVS Employer Forum event last Tuesday, February 15, Claudia suggested to get recommendations on LinkedIn, first you should give recommendations.
What a wonderfully wise idea!
First seek out others who have qualities, or experience, or situations you admire. People who are working, or have worked, where you would like to work. Others who have the background, the education or training, or skill sets you find of interest. Fellow professionals or workers who are where you want to be; who have taken the journey you may need to take to get where you want to be.
Include those who have connections to those people with whom you most closely want to identify.
Then read their profiles and invite them to join your network if you already know them or have a connection in common.
Get to know them to learn what you admire, appreciate, the most about them.
And, most importantly, compose a recommendation and send it to them.
By taking these steps, you also learn about yourself.
You learn about what is important to you, what interests you and what you admire.
By finding it in others, you gain a better understanding of what strengths you have already and what strengths you need to develop.
And you take action to enlist the aid of others who have developed those strengths to show you the way.
If you need help with your recommendations or in learning about and navigating LinkedIn, attend my LinkedIn series the first week in March. Go to www.parnossahworksdetroit.org and click on the Seminars/Events tab for more information and to register.
You can also follow me and JVS on LinkedIn, the JVS website at www.jvsdet.org, and JVS Detroit on Facebook.
Or email me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org.
Recommend us to your friends and connections, especially anyone who is looking for help in finding employment or changing careers.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Be a Source of Good Feelings
Why would anyone want to take your phone call or read and answer your email?
If you are looking for a job and the extent of your contacts is limited to sending resumes and completing applications, then you are no different than any other job seeker.
How can you make yourself special?
You certainly have to apply for jobs, especially those that are not being advertised, the hidden job market, but what else are you doing to be memorable?
How about adding good feelings to the equation?
Success in your job search has as much to do with fostering good feelings as with being qualified for the job.
You have to be positive, professional and patiently persistent, but also consider being the bearer of good news, good thoughts, good wishes.
A counselor friend of mine built her business by creating a Good News newsletter that she mailed to several dozen CEOs of major corporations. Several of those supposedly unapproachable executives contacted her personally to thank her for bringing some good feelings to their otherwise stressful day.
How about sharing a good natured, inspirational quotation with some of the hiring managers with whom you are trying to connect? Nothing more than a gesture of good will.
No resume, no application, just good feelings.
That might make all the difference in being remembered when that hiring decision is being made.
For ideas for motivational quotations, send me an email, contact me on LinkedIn, or follow JVSDetroit on Twitter.
Walt Tarrow
wtarrow@jvsdet.org
If you are looking for a job and the extent of your contacts is limited to sending resumes and completing applications, then you are no different than any other job seeker.
How can you make yourself special?
You certainly have to apply for jobs, especially those that are not being advertised, the hidden job market, but what else are you doing to be memorable?
How about adding good feelings to the equation?
Success in your job search has as much to do with fostering good feelings as with being qualified for the job.
You have to be positive, professional and patiently persistent, but also consider being the bearer of good news, good thoughts, good wishes.
A counselor friend of mine built her business by creating a Good News newsletter that she mailed to several dozen CEOs of major corporations. Several of those supposedly unapproachable executives contacted her personally to thank her for bringing some good feelings to their otherwise stressful day.
How about sharing a good natured, inspirational quotation with some of the hiring managers with whom you are trying to connect? Nothing more than a gesture of good will.
No resume, no application, just good feelings.
That might make all the difference in being remembered when that hiring decision is being made.
For ideas for motivational quotations, send me an email, contact me on LinkedIn, or follow JVSDetroit on Twitter.
Walt Tarrow
wtarrow@jvsdet.org
Friday, December 17, 2010
Why is no one responding to my resume?
Is there something wrong with your resume that you are not getting any responses?
I was asked this question today by a frustrated job seeker who wanted help in fixing her resume.
My response follows:
I would be more than willing to look at your resume and offer suggestions, BUT it is essential that you share with me the job titles and company names of the openings to which you have applied.
Without knowing to what and where you have submitted your resume, I have little clue as to what should be in your resume.
Your resume is only as good as the specific keywords it contains as they match with the keywords of the job posting or description.
Also, most importantly, your qualifications have very little to do with whether or not you get any response to your resume.
The resume gatherers, the people to whom you send your resume, are screeners. Their job is to scan quickly resumes for keywords and send on those that have all, or at least a majority, of their target keywords.
They only have seconds to review a resume or applications and don't have time to read much of anything let alone think about what they see. In fact, in many cases, they have computer software scanning and finding the keywords for them.
The overwhelming, 90% of the time, reason why you don’t get responses is simply that resumes get lost in the heavy volume of them, in many cases 1000s, that are sent by desperate job seekers.
Your odds of ever getting any response to your resume or application, regardless of your qualifications, without following up repeatedly, is less than one in one thousand or .1%.
So playing the odds by just sending in your resume and/or submitting your application and waiting for a response means you would have to send in a resume or apply to at least 1000 openings to get one response!
You’ve got 900 more to go.
And, better still, you have one hundred with which you need to follow up.
Discover and determine the contact information for the company holding the job opening. Knowing specific contact people within the company, especially the hiring decision maker(s), makes all the difference in getting noticed. And without getting noticed, you probably won’t get a response.
If the company is not clearly identified, then do some detective work based on clues in the job posting like an email address or the type of business and location.
Then follow up with additional information like faxing another version of your resume or emailing your Facebook or LinkedIn link or dropping off your resume in person.
Repeated follow up has now become a requirement in making contact after you have sent your resume or applied for the job.
Let’s stay in touch,
Walt
And stay in touch with me and JVS at www.jvsdet.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
I was asked this question today by a frustrated job seeker who wanted help in fixing her resume.
My response follows:
I would be more than willing to look at your resume and offer suggestions, BUT it is essential that you share with me the job titles and company names of the openings to which you have applied.
Without knowing to what and where you have submitted your resume, I have little clue as to what should be in your resume.
Your resume is only as good as the specific keywords it contains as they match with the keywords of the job posting or description.
Also, most importantly, your qualifications have very little to do with whether or not you get any response to your resume.
The resume gatherers, the people to whom you send your resume, are screeners. Their job is to scan quickly resumes for keywords and send on those that have all, or at least a majority, of their target keywords.
They only have seconds to review a resume or applications and don't have time to read much of anything let alone think about what they see. In fact, in many cases, they have computer software scanning and finding the keywords for them.
The overwhelming, 90% of the time, reason why you don’t get responses is simply that resumes get lost in the heavy volume of them, in many cases 1000s, that are sent by desperate job seekers.
Your odds of ever getting any response to your resume or application, regardless of your qualifications, without following up repeatedly, is less than one in one thousand or .1%.
So playing the odds by just sending in your resume and/or submitting your application and waiting for a response means you would have to send in a resume or apply to at least 1000 openings to get one response!
You’ve got 900 more to go.
And, better still, you have one hundred with which you need to follow up.
Discover and determine the contact information for the company holding the job opening. Knowing specific contact people within the company, especially the hiring decision maker(s), makes all the difference in getting noticed. And without getting noticed, you probably won’t get a response.
If the company is not clearly identified, then do some detective work based on clues in the job posting like an email address or the type of business and location.
Then follow up with additional information like faxing another version of your resume or emailing your Facebook or LinkedIn link or dropping off your resume in person.
Repeated follow up has now become a requirement in making contact after you have sent your resume or applied for the job.
Let’s stay in touch,
Walt
And stay in touch with me and JVS at www.jvsdet.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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